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| Water Resources & Water Quality |
| February 2010 |
Studies Reveal Why Drinking Water Wells are Vulnerable to Contamination
The USGS has studied groundwater aquifers and public-supply wells in California, Connecticut, and Florida to determine what, when, and how contaminants may reach public-supply wells.
Studies Reveal Why Drinking Water Wells are Vulnerable to Contamination
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| February 2010 |
New Jersey American Water Plans to Build $72 Million Treatment Plant in Millburn
An ultra-modern, $72 million water treatment plant is on tap for a fall groundbreaking, New Jersey American Water announced this week. The plant, to be located in Millburn New Jersey will have the capacity to deliver 14 million gallons per day to parts of Essex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset and Union Counties.
New Jersey American Water Plans to Build $72 Million Treatment Plant in Millburn
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| September 2009 |
EPA Releases List of Priority Drinking Water Contaminants for Regulatory Consideration
EPA is releasing its third list of drinking water contaminants that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and may require regulation. EPA will continue to evaluate and collect data on the contaminants, and determine by 2013 whether or not to propose drinking water regulations for some of them.
EPA Releases List of Priority Drinking Water Contaminants for Regulatory Consideration
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| Site Characterization |
| June 2010 |
N.J. to add up to 25 more 'Superfund' sites in next 5 years as competition for federal funds increases
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Ed Putnam, head of the Remediation Program, has predicted that three to five sites would be added to the National Priorities List per year in New Jersey over the next five years. While this makes the state eligible to acquire additional federal funds for the cleanup, it would also add to the list of contaminated site that continue to be discovered. Only 29 of the state’s 142 hazardous-waste sites have been cleaned up.
N.J. to add up to 25 more 'Superfund' sites in next 5 years as competition for federal funds increases
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| February 2010 |
Rock Salt Threatens New Jersey Waterways After Onslaught of Snow and Ice
Thousands of tons of rock salt and hundreds of thousands of gallons of calcium chloride, brine and other sodium-based products spread over roadways in New Jersey during recent snow storms may soon find its way into drinking water aquifers.
Rock Salt Threatens New Jersey Waterways After Onslaught of Snow and Ice
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| Site Remediation |
| May 2010 |
Natural Cure for Groundwater Arsenic Contamination
A team of researchers led by Dr Asha Lata Singh, an Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University has successfully found that a natural microbial based cleaning solution reduces Arsenic levels in groundwater to 0.8 parts per million.
Natural Cure for Groundwater Arsenic Contamination
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| March 2010 |
Billions of Tiny Bugs Have Green Jobs Cleaning Up Polluted Sites
The California company Microvi Biotech has developed a low cost, low impact, energy efficient system that utilizes billions of microorganisms, cleaning up soil and groundwater pollutants like perchlorate.
Billions of Tiny Bugs Have Green Jobs Cleaning Up Polluted Sites
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| March 2010 |
Using the Smallest Thing Known to Man to Fix a Big Problem
Jason Gerhard and a team of researchers at the University of Western Ontario have developed a process known as STAR (self sustaining treatment for active remediation), which is a remediation approach that uses nanoparticles to treat contaminants in-situ.
Using the Smallest Thing Known to Man to Fix a Big Problem
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| Environmental Law and Regulations |
| July 2010 |
D.C. Circuit Upholds Constitutionality of CERCLA Unilateral Orders
The U.S. Court of appeals recently issued an opinion regarding a challenge to the constitutionality of unilateral administrative orders (UAOs) issued by the USEPA under CERCLA. In the case of GE v. Jackson, GE argued that UAO provisions of CERCLA violate the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. However, the court found that the EPA’s pattern and practice in the issuance of UAOs did not violate the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution, as the USEPA must sue a PRP in order to obtain any damages or penalties.
D.C. Circuit Upholds Constitutionality of CERCLA Unilateral Orders
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| June 2010 |
New Treatment Plant Showcases Technology to Meet Stronger, Greatly Needed Water Quality Standards
A newly constructed wastewater treatment plant in Westmoreland County utilizes technology needed to meet tougher water quality standards that are currently being considered in Pennsylvania in order to protect water supplies from the effects of natural gas drilling. According to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger, “Natural gas exploration and drilling in the Marcellus Shale is booming here in Pennsylvania, creating a significant challenge in terms of how the industry can treat and dispose of gas drilling and fracturing wastewater. This wastewater contains exceptionally high TDS levels and most drinking-water treatment facilities are unable to deal with water containing those high concentrations.” DEP’s new proposed regulations would establish two standards—one for natural gas drillers and one for new or expanding facilities.
New Treatment Plant Showcases Technology to Meet Stronger, Greatly Needed Water Quality Standards
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| June 2010 |
EPA Proposes Updating Drinking Water Rule to Better Protect Public Health
The USEPA is proposing to revise a 1989 Coliform Rule in order to incorporate recommendations from a federal advisory committee. The proposed rule would require water utilities to find and fix any microbial pathways upon obtaining positive testing results. The rule also seeks to update the conditions that will trigger public notices to better represent the relative health threat identified, and to require that these notices be worded more clearly.
EPA Proposes Updating Drinking Water Rule to Better Protect Public Health
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| GIS and Data Management |
| May 2009 |
Mass. Putting Final Touches on Ocean Planning Map
As the nation increasingly looks to its oceans for energy, Massachusetts is putting the final touches on a vast regulatory map designed to plot out where wind farms, and other offshore projects, can be located in its coastal waters. Rather than dealing with future proposals in a piecemeal manner, Massachusetts decided to create an ocean map with hard boundaries isolating development areas. Other states, including California, have laws in place to create marine conservation areas, but Massachusetts' law is more comprehensive. A draft version of the map is set to be unveiled July 1 with a final version in place by January 2010.
Mass. Putting Final Touches on Ocean Planning Map
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| August 2008 |
Toxics Targeting Develops New Web Map Application
Toxics Targeting has built a new free web map application on their website, maps.toxicstargeting.com/, to inform clients residing in New York State about the locations of underground hazards near their neighborhoods and schools. The application is hosted by www.MapServing.com, and was recently highlighted in the New York Times and Ithaca Times.
Toxics Targeting Develops New Web Map Application
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| February 2008 |
MapServing Press Release
www.MapServing.com, the internet's best place for GIS users to easily, quickly, and securely share their map projects announces their enhanced internet map-hosting service. MapServing’s intuitive web-based user interface makes it very easy for users to get their maps online quickly to share with clients and colleagues allowing them to easily interact directly with your GIS project(s).
MapServing Press Release
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| Groundwater Modeling |
| August 2009 |
Space Images Forewarn of Indian Groundwater Crisis
Using data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and hydrologic modeling, scientists have been able to estimate groundwater depletion in areas of India. This is done using GRACE’s 2 satellites which measure gravitation forces. Study results indicate that India is depleting its groundwater resources faster than anticipated.
Space Images Forewarn of Indian Groundwater Crisis
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| July 2009 |
Feds Document Shrinking San Joaquin Valley Aquifer
The groundwater levels in the San Joaquin Valley have reportedly declined by 400 feet since 1961 – an amount equal to 60 million acre-feet which is enough water to supply water to every California household for a period of 10 years. This is particularly evident during drought years such as the present conditions. The USGS has been asked to monitor water levels in the area and work on a numerical model. The model can be used to determine the best locations for artificial recharge and groundwater banking projects. This model is projected to be used has a planning tool.
Feds Document Shrinking San Joaquin Valley Aquifer
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